Chapter 179 – Join Me in Being Edgy (Part One)
“Countless people are born into this world without a name, yet few are remembered for a lifetime by future generations. Some live quietly, only to be remembered by two or three descendants before fading into dust. When those descendants also become dust, who will remember their names? But some, even after hundreds or thousands of years, continue to live in the memories of others—that is true immortality.”
To put it simply, if one doesn’t accomplish something grand in their life, it feels like they’ve wasted it.
Indeed, Jiang Pengji was gathering allies, preparing for her grand scheme.
Meng Hunyun listened to Jiang Pengji’s words and felt a strange flutter in his heart.
He found himself a bit parched, and after a long pause, he awkwardly replied, “Young Master, are you saying…?”
Jiang Pengji suddenly smiled widely, “Instead of living a life hiding your identity in the wilderness, why not follow me?”
Meng Hunyun was taken aback, his fierce eyes brimming with shock and a hint of excitement.
“But… Won’t that mean the Meng Clan will come after you?”
Meng Hunyun felt he needed a moment to calm the restlessness in his heart; it was dangerously enticing.
“Did I not say? If you’re willing, I’ll handle the rest. The Meng Clan is merely a grasshopper after autumn; how long can they hop around? History books are merely blank pages written by the victor. If you wish, you can ensure they’re remembered for eternity with a stench.”
Jiang Pengji’s voice carried an enticing power, luring Meng Hunyun step by step into a trap.
“Think about how much praise you’ll receive in the future and how much scorn they’ll endure. Don’t you find that vision captivating?”
Indeed… it was captivating!
Meng Hunyun’s breath became slightly ragged, and he unconsciously swallowed, as the sight before him seemed shrouded in the future she described.
However, even so, his rationality prevailed.
“Why… does the Young Master have such… rebellious thoughts?”
Jiang Pengji chuckled, her tone strangely teasing, “Rebellious thoughts?”
Meng Hunyun slowly regained his composure, trying to suppress the fluttering in his heart, so as not to lose his basic defenses.
“Do you not think your thoughts are rebellious?”
She shook her head and replied with a smile, “Do you think my thoughts are rebellious against the Dongqing royal family, or against the Cangzhou Meng Clan? Look at today’s court; when has it ever been clear? Look at today’s common people; when have they ever been well-fed? Meng Hunyun, tell me honestly, did you pledge your loyalty to the Dongqing royal family or to the Cangzhou Meng Clan?”
Each question hit Meng Hunyun like bricks against his heart, rendering him speechless.
“You don’t need to answer me because your continued calling me Young Master—rather than traitorous rebel—already says everything.”
Meng Hunyun suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness, even hesitating to meet Jiang Pengji’s gaze.
What she said was correct; he was powerless to argue.
“Let’s not speak of this…” Jiang Pengji huffed in a sarcastic tone, “Just from the current situation, how much longer do you think this false peace can last? Your former employer, the Meng Clan, has already stirred up the ire of the people in Cangzhou, with war looming!”
She said nonchalantly, “Setting aside internal strife, just look at the external threats; currently, the Dongqing is also in dire straits. Given this, everyone in the world has the right to fight for something; why can’t I? The founder of the Great Xia Dynasty once claimed he was destined by heaven—if that’s the case, why couldn’t his descendants maintain this kingdom? Why have so many turned against Great Xia? Is that what being ‘destined by heaven’ means? I refuse to believe it!”
As she spoke more audaciously, panic and urgency flashed through Meng Hunyun’s eyes, “Young Master, be careful! The walls have ears…”
Jiang Pengji clicked her tongue, “Don’t worry. The only ones who can hear these words are you and me. No matter how sharp those wall ears are, they can’t hide from my ears. Otherwise, why would I be saying all this to you? Do I seem like a reckless person?”
Though she was bold, she wasn’t foolish.
She’s not the kind to rush in carelessly, thinking she could get away with anything like Meng Liang did!
She dared to speak freely because she had her backing.
Meng Hunyun was entirely swayed, but a doubt lingered in his heart.
Even though he understood asking it might be a fatal mistake.
“Does the Young Master trust me so much? Have you considered what if I’m not genuine and turn around to divulge your words?”
Meng Hunyun recognized he was flirting with danger; after all, there’s no right answer to this kind of question, and it could easily provoke his superior’s ire.
Jiang Pengji glanced at Meng Hunyun and countered, “Are you suggesting that your willingness to self-harm for your brothers was all an act?”
“Naturally not!”
“Then I’m not worried.” Jiang Pengji lowered her gaze and said casually, “If I misjudged someone, then that would be my own blindness.”
Thus, Meng Hunyun unknowingly boarded Jiang Pengji’s pirate ship.
“If I’m indeed blind, I will wipe away any trouble.” She added with a smile.
Meng Hunyun: “…”
Wait, why does it feel like the Young Master’s vibe has shifted oddly?
Before he could ponder further, Jiang Pengji had already veered the conversation elsewhere.
“This is the Liu Residence’s villa; there’s an ice cellar to store things. For now, keep Meng Liang’s corpse there to prevent decay.”
Jiang Pengji didn’t even need to look to know how Meng Liang had died—bled out like a pig, enduring immense fear before his demise.
Poor kid! If reincarnation exists, he better be careful where he lands, or he might end up in her hands again!
“This… can’t we just burn it? Scatter the ashes anywhere?”
Storing Meng Liang’s body in the ice cellar felt like a waste.
“That simply won’t do!” Jiang Pengji laughed, her tone somewhat sinister, “Sending a white-haired person off to a black-haired person is already painful enough. If he knew his son’s ashes were scattered everywhere, or if his body decayed, wouldn’t that be too cruel?”
Meng Hunyun was at a loss for words; so it’s less cruel to keep the body intact and send it over?
He felt he was thinking too much; this Young Master had not only a benevolent side but also a ruthless one.
Though, it made sense.
Otherwise, how could a pure-hearted person utter such shocking statements?
“We also need to clean up the blood; the weather is warming up. If we don’t clean it properly, it’ll start to smell and attract flies.” Jiang Pengji instructed, “You and those subordinates of yours should temporarily discard your old names, change your looks a bit, and I’ll arrange for you to hide out at the farm.”
“The farm?” Meng Hunyun chuckled and inquired, “Is it the same one as before?”
“Yeah, that one, but you won’t stay there long.” Jiang Pengji crossed her arms, showing no airs of nobility at all, her demeanor quite laid-back as she stated, “The bandits near Hejian County have been on my radar for a while. With the current chaos, I’ll try to recruit a bunch. They vary in skill; some are genuinely wicked and can’t be kept, while others are forced by circumstance. If they show a desire to join, I might as well consider taking them in…”
